Bundling press compression control



May 6, 1941. H. ABELE BUNDLING PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed July 28, 1938 INVENTOR m 5 Wiufl t-17 ATTORNE H. ABELE BUNDLING PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL May 6, 1941;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1938 NN i a 7 r 0 INVENTOR mm B) ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUNDLING PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL 7 Hermann Abele, Zurich, Switzerland Application July 28, 1938, Serial No. 221,668

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in presses such as are employed in producing compressed bundles, for example of newspapers and more particularly relates to an improved power drive and drive control for such presses to reduce the time and labor required for the operation of such presses.

Presses of the character involved in the present invention are such as are shown in British Patent 384,241 issued to me on December 1, 1932, and. generally comprise a base carrying a vertically reciprocating frame for pressing newspapers etc. between the base and plates carried by the pressing frame. Movement of the pressing frame toward the base for compressing the material to be bundled, is, preferably produced by an electric motor acting through a clutch on an endless sprocket chain fastened to the pressing frame and running over sprocket wheels mounted at the top of the base and on a part of the clutch and having a counterweight mounted on the chain. The counterweight is lifted by the motor when the pressing frame is drawn down by the motor on the papers to be compressed and release of the clutch allows the counterweight to drop thus lifting the pressing frame to allow the removal of the tied bundle and the insertion of another stack of material to be compressed and tied.

When a press of the character above described was used heretofore, the operator had to exercise his judgment as to the degree of compression applied and means had to be provided by which the compressor could be maintained on the bundle while the bundle was being tied. As a result of operation of presses by difierent persons or even intermittently by the same person, the degree of compression of the bundles varied within wide limits. Further, the maintenance of compression on the bundle required continued operation of the driving motor with slipping of the clutch after the desired degree of compression was reached. Such slipping required an oversize clutch to avoid rapid overheating and consequent destruction thereof.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a baling or bundling press for newspapers etc. in which means are provided for obtaining an invariable and predetermined degree of compression on the bundles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press of the character described with means for maintaining the desired compression of a bundle on the press during the time required for tying the bundle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power driven baling press with means for automatically obtaining and maintaining a predetermined degree of compression on the bundles without requiring continuous application of power to the press.

Objects and advantages, other than those above set forth, will be apparent from the followingdescription when read in connection with the ac companying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the press with the greater portion of one of the inclosing panels of the base broken away to show the arrangement of the operating mechanism of the base,

Figure 2 is a top view taken on the horizontal plane II-II of Figure 1 to show the arrangement of the driving motor, the gearing and the clutch mechanism and the means for automatically controlling the degree of compression exerted by the Press on the material,

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on a vertical plane III-III of Figure 2 substantially through the axis of the driven shaft to show the driving gearing, the construction of the clutch and the means for engaging and disengaging the several portions of the clutch,

Figure 4 is an enlarged top view of the compression control means and the motor switch operated thereby.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken onthe plane V-V of Figure 4 to show the structure of the compression control means and the motor switch operated thereby,

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the manner in which the holding blocks engage the sprocket chain,

Figure 6a is a perspective view of one of the holding blocks shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevation of the motor switch mounted on the pressure control means to show the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof in closed position, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of the motor switch to show the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof in open position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, the reference numeral ll designates a base which is inclosed by suitable panels l2 and which forms a support and inclosure for other elements of the structure. The flat top of the base H has mounted thereon a plurality of pressure blocks 13, preferably four in number and with apertures through three of such blocks to form guides for rods [4- passing therethrough. The rods l4 are provided on the upper ends thereof with plates I6 extending at right angles to the rods and cooperating with the pressure blocks l3 in receiving and retaining a stack of laminar material, such as a bundle of newspapers, to be compressed and tied while under pressure. The lower ends of the rods are joined by a. crosshead H to which is connected an endless sprocket chain I8 passing over a sprocket wheel I9 mounted in a freely rotatable manner in the upper portion of the base inclosure. The sprocket chain |8 passes over a second sprocket wheel 2|, mounted on a portion of a suitable clutch to be described, and such chain has connected with it a counterweight 22 sliding on suitable guides 23 extending vertically downward from the top of the base The pressing frame |4, I6, I1, is lowered by an electric motor 24, driving a worm 25 engaging a worm wheel 26, which is keyed on a shaft 21 mounted on suitable bearings 28, within a housing 29. The shaft 21 extends from the housing 29, and is supported within a bearing 3| and is axially adjustable within the bearings 28 and 3| by set screws 32 bearing on balls 33 contacting with the ends of the shaft. A clutch transmits power from the worm wheel 26 and shaft 2'! to the lower sprocket wheel 2| which is mounted on a portion of the clutch. The clutch comprises an outer member 36 which is fixed on shaft 21 against both axial and rotational movement thereon, an inner member 31 which is axially but not rotatably movable on the shaft and on which the lower sprocket wheel is fixed, and a second outer member 38 which is axially but not rotatably movable on the shaft 2'1. The intermediate clutch member 31 comprises a plurality of plates 4| and 42 axially slidable on the shaft and through which power is transmitted from the shaft 2'! to the sprocket wheel 2|. Further explanation of the clutch is deemed unnecessary, it being understood that the clutch itself, above briefly described, may be any of the known plate clutches and that other suitable clutches may also be employed. The clutch members, 36, 38, 4| and 42 are normally held in engagement by a spring 43 under compression between a nut 44 threaded on the-shaft 21 and a, preferably ball, bearing 46 axially movable on the shaft 21. The bearing engages or forms a part of a lever 41 pivotally mounted on the base II at 48 and extending upwardly adjacent the top'of the base where the lever may be provided with a handle for direct operation or may be indirectly operated by a second lever 49 extending beyond the base at a convenient location. It will be understood that the clutch is disengaged by rocking of lever 41 in a direction to compress spring 43 and to cause separation of clutch plates 42, particularly, from driving clutch member 36 as is well known.

The press is provided with an automatic compression control now to be described. A cylindrical casing is mounted on the pressing frame crosshead l1, and the sprocket chain 8 passes centrally through the casing. The casing 5| contains a spring 52 and a chain attachment or flange which is movable within the casing and which comprises a flanged retainer 53 in which the chain is engaged by a pair of blocks 54 formed to fit closely in the retainer and closely on the chain and held in the retainer 53 by a plate 56 screwed therein. The retainer 53 is formed with a lug 51 extending through a slot in the casing 5| for a purpose to be described. The casing is provided with a suitable cover plate 58. When the motor 24 pulls the chain downwardly to cause downward movement of pressing frame l4, l6, l1 and compression of the stack of material on the blocksl3, the spring 52 is compressed by downward movement of chain retainer 53 with its extending lug 51.

As above stated, lug 51 extends beyond the spring casing 5|, and after compression of spring 52, engages a mechanism for tripping a switch which controls the circuit to the electric motor 24. The switch tripping mechanism and the switch itself comprises a block 6| mounted on the lug 5'! and provided with a recess to receive one end of a helical spring 62. The other end of the spring 62 is mounted in a recess in a block 63 attached to one end of a stem 54 extending into a box 66 mounted on the casing 5|, the other end of the stem engaging the blades 61 of a switch of the toggle or snap type tensioned by a spring 68 and controlling the motor connections 69. A spring H is mounted between the block 63 and the switch box 66. It will be observed that the holes in box 66 for attachment thereof to the spring casing 5| are elongated to permit adjustment of the position of the box relative to the casing.

In operation; assuming that the clutch is disengaged, that the counterweight 22 has pulled the chain 8 down to raise the pressing frame |4 |6l'|, that springs 52, 62 and H are expanded and that the switch has closed the circuit to start the motor 24; a stack of papers or other laminar material to be bundled is placed on the pressure blocks l3 and hence directly beneath the plates N5 of the pressing frame. Lever 41 is then moved to cause engagement of the clutch which rotates sprocket wheel 2| and pulls chain |8 downwardly to pull the pressing frame downwardly and thus exerts pressure on the materials to be compressed. Downward movement of the chain |8 of course raises the counterweight 22 and pulls chain retainer 53 and its lug downwardly to compress spring 52. The lug then acts on spring 62 which forces block 63 and stem 64 downwardly against the action of spring H and the switch spring 88. Such downward movement of the chain l8 continues until the pivot point of stem 64 and switch blades 61 have reached the point at which tension of spring 68 is overcome and the switch snaps open to interrupt the motor circuit. The motor 24 ceases operation and the stack of material is held under compression, due to the irreversibility of the worm drive, until the bundle has been tied. The clutch lever 41 is then operated to release the clutch, whereupon the counterweight 22 drops and raises the pressing frame l4, l6, H, to release the tied bundle. Movement of the chain |8 raises the spring retainer 53 and its lug 51, which allows springs 62 and H to expand and lift stem 64 whereupon spring 68 again snaps switch blade 67 into the switch clips to close the circuit of the motor 24 to commence another cycle of operations on a stack of material to be tied.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a press in which the base supports or incloses a pressing frame, the driving motor and driving mechanism for the press and the automatically operating compression control devices for the press The driving mechanism provides a worm and wheel which is irreversible and hence holds any predetermined degree of compression of the bundle and also provides a norm-ally en,-

gaged clutch which may however slip and thus avoid destructive compression of the bundle or destructive strains on the several portions of the press. The compression control allows a predetermined pressure to be exerted on the bundle regardless of the size thereof due to the action of the main spring 52, and the several springs of the switch operating mechanism permit overtravel of the motor and the drive without danger to the switch structure. The position of the switch case relative to the spring housing can be adjusted as desired by use of the slots in the switch box. Choice of a suitable spring '52 thus broadly determines the compression exerted on the bundle, and adjustment of the switch box relative to the spring housing permits variation of the pressure within a range of approximately two hundred pounds. A scale 12 may be placed adjacent the switch box by which scale the pressure may be initially adjusted or by which such adjustment may be determined whenever desired. The springs interposed between the lug and the switch avoid the possibility of contact of the lug on the switch box which might occur if the lug came close to the switch box before the motor stopped moving.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a press for bundling a laminar material, a base, a pressing frame including a crosshead movably mounted on the base to compress the material thereon upon downward movement of the frame, an electric motor mounted in the base, a plurality of sprocket wheels mounted in the base, one of said wheels being connected with said motor for rotation thereby, an endless chain engaging the sprocket wheels, a housing carried by said crosshead, passages in said housing through which said chain passes, a compression spring within said housing, an abutment member carried by said chain and lying in contact with one end of said spring whereby said spring is compressed upon movement of said chain relative to said crosshead, a motor circuit control switch movable with said crosshead, and means interconnecting said abutment and said switch whereby the motor circuit is opened upon the compression of material in said press as to cause relative movement between said crosshead and said chain.

2. In a press for bundling a laminar material, a base, a pressing frame including a crosshead movably mounted on the base to compress the material thereon upon downward movement of the frame, an electric motor mounted in the base, a plurality of sprocket wheels mounted in the base, one of said wheels being connected with said motor for rotation thereby, an endless chain engaging the sprocket wheels, a housing attached to said crosshead, passages in said housing and said crosshead through which said chain passes, a compression spring surrounding said chain within said housing, an abutment member attached to said chain and lying in contact with one end of said spring whereby said spring is compressed upon movement of said chain relative to said crosshead, a motor circuit control switch attached to said housing, and an extension carried by said abutment and having an operative connection with said switch whereby the motor circuit is opened upon th compression of material in said press as to cause relative movement between said crosshead and said chain.

HERMANN ABELE. 

